MedicineNeurologySurgeryCranial Nerve DisordersNeurotologyOtolaryngologic SurgeryAbducens Nerve DisordersCentral Nervous System TumorsCranial Nerve PalsiesCranial Nerve TumorsCranial NervesAbducens Nerve DysfunctionAbducens Nerve ExaminationBilateral Abducens Nerve PalsyBilateral Cranial Nerve PalsiesChordoma ImagingClivus AnatomySphenoid Sinus AnatomySphenoid Sinus Surgery
An 87-year-old male complaining of horizontal diplopia of five months duration was found to have bilateral abducens nerve palsies. The remainder of the neurologic examination was unremarkable, but neuroradiologic investigation disclosed a lesion involving the sella and sphenoid sinus, with erosion of the upper aspect of the clivus. A large chordoma was found at trans-sphenoidal surgery. This presentation is unique in that the chordoma produced bilateral sixth-nerve palsies with no other neurologic defects.